Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 131 Ava: The Party (II)

Breathe, Selene reminds me, her voice cutting through the chaos. You're okay. Just take it one step at a time.

I inhale deeply, letting the air fill my lungs before exhaling slowly.

Lisa tugs on my arm again, pointing towards the kitchen. "Let's get something to drink," she suggests, already moving in that direction.

I follow her through the crowd, keeping my eyes fixed on the back of her head. The kitchen is quieter, the music muffled by the walls and the hum of conversation. A few shifters are gathered around the island, pouring drinks and chatting amongst themselves.

Lisa grabs two plastic cups from the stack on the counter, handing one to me before turning to the array of bottles lined up beside the sink. "What do you want?" she asks, her gaze flicking over the labels.

"Just water," I remind her, echoing Kellan's earlier instructions.

She rolls her eyes but reaches for a pitcher of water anyway, filling both of our cups. "You're no fun," she teases, taking a sip from her own.

I shrug, lifting my cup to my lips. The water is cold and crisp, soothing my parched throat. I hadn't realized how thirsty I was until now.

As I drink, I let my gaze wander around the kitchen, taking in the faces of the shifters gathered there. A few of them look vaguely familiar, but most are strangers.

One girl catches my eye, her gaze meeting mine over the rim of her cup. She's tall and slender, with long dark hair that falls in waves down her back. There's something about the way she holds herself, the tilt of her chin and the set of her shoulders, that speaks of confidence and power.

She smiles at me, a slow, lazy curl of her lips that sends a shiver down my spine. I look away quickly, my cheeks heating.

a hint of amusement

another sip of water to hide

she says, but I can practically hear the smirk in her

before I can ask, Lisa grabs my

towards the doorway. "I think I see some people from the gym over there. Let's

throng, my cup clutched tightly in my hand. The music washes over me again, the beat

those thoughts aside. Tonight, I'm just

looks on their faces, and it

at Lisa. "Come

remember her name, but Lisa does, dragging me behind

me at the gym. He looks approachable now, even amused, as he slings an arm over

with her elbow.

believe he's finally

and several of the shifters laugh

quiet as yet another familiar face from the gym—someone

back is to a wall, watching everyone interact with each

one seems to notice me or care that I'm there, and I'm

Well, almost no one.

the dark-haired girl from before, her eyes still fixed on me. There's something unsettling about the intensity of her stare, the way her lips

voice a soothing presence in my mind.